The setting: Scarpetta at the Montage Beverly Hills, where guests spilled from the restaurant into the bar and onto the patios for mingling with friends and making new acquaintances.

The circuit: For Kiernan Shipka of the Emmy-nominated “Mad Men,” the Variety & WIF affair represented a mid-point in her party agenda. She had already attended the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Performers Nominee Reception and a separate “Mad Men” soiree. She said she still intended to show up at a talent agency party and Entertainment Weekly’s multi-star-studded shindig, wisely budgeting a half-hour to an hour at each event.

Quotes of note: Like Dot-Marie Jones, with whom I spoke at the earlier Performers Nominee party, Jenna Ushkowitz -- a.k.a Tina Cohen-Chang on “Glee” -- weighed in on the controversy surrounding the upcoming tribute to Cory Monteith at Sunday’s Emmys.

“Cory Monteith affected a generation that doesn’t really get affected by the Emmys on TV as much they should,” Ushkowitz said. “What happened is a very hard thing to swallow, but it’s important for kids to know about. I know I’m biased because he was such a good friend, but I want to honor him because he was such a gentleman and a kind person. There is nothing I can say that’s bad about him. It was a phenomenon and a whirlwind that we had and that’s all I can say.”